Typewriting machine



Mrch 6, 192s. A 1,661,311

J. A. B. SMITH 'Y TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 6, 1924 /nven/o/I'; MM 6 M A /fa/wey showing theparts of my invention mounted Patented Mar. 6, 1928. Y

UNITED #STATES JESSE A. E. SMITH, or sTAiviEOnD, CONNECTICUT, AssIeNoR A'ro vUNDERWOODTYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OE NEW- YOEK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OEy DELAWARE.

TYEWRITIN'G MACHINE.

Application led September 6,1924; Serial No. 736,216. i

The usual line-spacing mechanism .of the typewriter need only be employed to advance the work-sheet .from the lirst to thesecond writing lines on the forms, and at all other times the much quicker method ot' advancing the work-sheet by drawing' it out of the machine with the lingers may be used; the present invention providing means for gaging variably the leading form on the work-sheet, after that form has been completed, and for severing a form of that length fromy the work-sheet,simultaneously with the bringing of the first writing lineof the second form of vthe same length to the printing point.

` This invention also provides means which may be mounted on any Underwood typewriting machine without alteration thereof, for holding the rapidlyl advanced web in its true right-angle relation to the platen, and for tearing off the web. Means are provided Vfor truing the tearing-ott knife, and means are also provided for-adjusting the width of the device so as to be attachable to varying widths of machines.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide such an arrangement of knife-bar that the cutting edge thereofwill be supported upon a biaswith respect to the papertable so that its cutting edge is nearest to the table and its blunt edgev farthest therefrom. vThis permits some friction to occur between the knife and -the work-sheetintroduced into the space between the cutting edge of this knife and the adjacent surface of the table, and gives other advantages,

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. i In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine in position thereon.

`Figure 2 is a transverse sectional elevation, partly in section', of Figure 1. v

.Figure 3 is a fragmental detail View, partly in section, of the Vadjustable connections 'b'etween knife Aand thesupport t'hereforf:vr

Referring to the drawings,` which are merely illustrative'of my invention, 1() desfignates the usual platen-'fastupon the platenshaft 1l, the platen 10v rbeing rotatively mounted in suitable bearings inthe usualV Vplaten-frame,which is provided with the side members or supportsl 24. The feed-rolls 12 and'13 `are shown designed tov tension the work-sheet against the platen toprevent dis placement of the work-sheet when itis linef'ed. The'paper-shelf 14 extends rearwardly of the platen and terminates in an upper curl-edor rolled edge l5. A4 shaft 16 is operatively secured to the outer` side of the paper-shelf 14 by the-arms 23, and embracing` this shaft are two spaced-apart Vcollars 17 carrying pivots 18 upon which are fulerumed the clamps 19 thateurve around the lrolled edge 15 of the paper-shelf. YIt will be understood that-the collars 17 are slidably Qan'd adjustably Vmounted upon the shaft'l. The clamps 19 have-plates 2O formed as-continuations thereof, which plates* are held under rtension in contact with thek opposite each plate 20, along one edge thereof, is the sideA of the papereshe'lf 14. Formed upon.

integral guide-flange y21, which projects at.Y

rightangles preferably to the plate 2O and formed at rightangles integrally upon each guide-Bange 21 isV a lugor flange 22, this lug being disposed inparallel relation toA the plate 20, y'as shown in Figure 1,.

l The'plates 2O and clamps 19 kform'paper- ,guides as is well understood byy those skilled in the art. A work-sheetin thezform of a web A is unrolled from a source of supply 25 in the course ofthe line-spacing of the platen, and passes-downwardly along the paper-shelf 14 andis engaged by the feedrolls 12 and 13,`so yas to overlie the platen 10, and the work-sheetA. then passes upwardly -in front ofthe platen. `The worksheet yis held the proper distance transversely ofthe paper-shelf 14 by means ofthe guides` the'plat-es 2O of which underlie'the sheet and the flanges 2 1 and 22 of which respectively i lateral and vertical.- displacement. v,

`f Accordingl to the present invention, the work-'sheet l or webis squared' as it is fed upwardlyby the platen during its linespacin'g operation, and the invention provvide'sfor gaging thisY sheet andeutting av complete al chute to hold the sheetn against V printed form thereon from the next succeeding printed form.

Arranged to overlie so as to be detachably secured-upon the side supports 24 of' tlieplatenframe is a pair of similarly sized and shaped Standards 28 having rightvangular bearing plates or flanges 26 secured by fasteners 27 upon said supports. These standards vsupport a paper-table, a

gage-bar and a tearing-off knife; and shouldr `which project towards eachother. Vertical- .ly-elongated slots`31 arek formed upon portions 40 formed upon the oppositefends of a knife-bar 38, and projecting into these slots 3l are screws 32 which receive thumb-nuts 33, by means of'which the knife-bar 38 may Ybe vertically adjusted. Removal of the nuts permits removal of the blade. A paper-rest comes in the form of an elongated plate 34 which has an upper base-portion 34l attached at its opposite ends 35 to lugs 30. 'Horizontal elongated slots 36 are formed upon the ends of base-portion or plate 34, and projecting in these slots 36 are screws 37 tapped into the lugs 30. These screws adjustably hold the table 34 upon the standards 28, the adjustment being widthwise.

` The'main body-portion 34 of the paperrest inclines upwardly and rearwardly from the .delivery side of the platen'to the verticaliportion 34a; and Aformed upon the end of. the plate 34 is a side-edgev guide in the form of a rightangular flange 41. A gagebar 42 is secured angularly to the back of the paper-rest and extends upwardly.

Slidablyv and adjustably mounted Aupon this gage-bar is the gage-member 46, and this member is held n adjusted position by means of the thumb-screw 47 engaging the gage-bar."V The fasteners 43 secure the gagebar upon the paper-rest.V

One of the important features of the present invention consists in angularly disposing the tearing-off throat with respect to the paper-rest. The knife-bar is formed as an intermediate portion of a metallic strap.

i Its ends 40 are'twisted so as to be disposed diagonallyl of knife-bar 38,` the vtwists formed thereupon being designated 39. The screws'32 which secure the table upon the lugs 30 of the standards pass through the slots 3l and are tapped into the lugs 30.

v The ears lie flat against the lugs 30, which dispose the knife-bar 38 at a bias with respect to the vertical plate or table 34a, saidV bar and plate Vforming a vertical throat, the table 34 formingan obtuse angle to the table 34, the knife operating asV a finger to press the web into the angle, bending the web. 'lhisvc'auses friction against the web.,

and holds the web steady during variousv operations thereon, and particularly keeps Vthe web from falling loose from the knife.

To bring the cuttingedge of the knifebar close to the rest, the-knife-bar 38 is succession of forms or orders printed thereon. The typist typesvupon any particular order-forni any mail-order item handled by any given department of the VInail-order organization. After the order has beencompletely typed upon it is ready to be gaged so as toy locate the division lline between this order and the next succeeding and printed' order along the edge of the tearing-ofi' knife 33. The typist casts off the feed-rolls 12 and Y13 from engagement with the platen. At

this time the web is properly squared .upon the paper-shelf 14 by means 'of theflanges 2l of the paper-guides, so that it. cannot move transversely of this shelf, and the guards 22 prevent it 'from being displaced vertically therefrom. -The web, after the feed-rolls are cast loif, is trued relat-ively to f the printing line by the c'o-operation of the guide-flanges 4l of the paper-rest with said side guides 2l. With the web thus squared with respect to the printing line, the'typist takes hold of the leading edge of this web and draws the first form thereon upwardly and into the mouthv 5ll formed by the rest and knife-bar 38. Theweb is passed between this knife and the rest above the cuttingk edge of the knife-bar where it may meet Yfrictional resistance. Thev leading' edge of this first form isbrought into eontactwith the gage-member 46 which has been adjusted to correspond with the vertical adjustment of the knife 38', so that when the leading end of the first form strikes gage 46, thedivision line between the first-'and second printed forms coincides with the cutting edge of thev the tearing-olf knife. This allows vthe typed first form to be cut off. The top edge of the second printed form remains held frictionally between the knife and the table-34, and is typed upon with another and different mail-order item than the tirst, and then Y drawn'upwardly. gaaedan'd then shorn off as just described. same screws which new secure the end plates in position uponv the platen side members.

It is not necessary to reorganize or change.

any part of thefmachine to which the inven- The screws 27 are the tionf isv attached. Theknife-bar 38 can be` lshifted' vertically because ofv theV slot-andscrew connection thereof with the rest to locate its cutting edge at the. proper pointl relatively to the varyingI lengthsof forms so that the forms may be severed; Theleadingedge gage 46 is thenadjusted accordingly.

' Thus the distance from' the knife edge to the gage r46 is brought'into correspondence' with the distance 1between the knifek edgeV and the printing line on the pl'aten,sothat said gage 46A accurately and finallyv locates the web for both severing the| same andV typing thelirstlline von thesecond form. The adjustment of gage 46 will be double vthe adjustment of the -lrnife blade; thatfis, an increase'of one inch Vi'nllength off-'form will call for one. inch'lift of the knife-blade and two inches. lift ofthe-gage 46. The

bers carriedby said platen-frame,y a' pair ofl standards having rightangularbearing plates removably secured upon said*l side members, rightangular lugs formed atfthe upper ends of.V said standards, a knife-'bar extending longitudinallyof saidy platen and'having its opposing ends formed with verticalslots, the

slotted ends of said knife-bar overlying said'l lugs, and set-screwsv projecting into V2said slots, tapped into "said lugs andv overlying said'r knife-bar to adjnstably Vhold saidl knife,-y bar in position.

Q. In a typewiiting machine, the combina-.

tion of a platen-frame, aplatenrevolubly inountedj therein, a paper-shelf in back of said platen, a paper-rest iny frontl ofv said platen at the upper plane thereof, Aguides ad'-y justably mounted "onsaid papershelf, eachv guide having aside flange withga rightangu-v lar lug bent over thereupon so as to-be' par-` allel with said'V shelf, righ'tangular "fl-ange formed upon one end of said paper-rest and being` in alignment with fone f of the side'.y flanges of one ofsaid" guides to position a',`

sheetl upon the platen,v a tearing-olf lknifebarv mounted for adjustable movement upon said paper-rest,y and means for securingboth the knife-barand 4thepaper-rest upon said platen,-frfanoe. n, v y v l Y Y 3. As a1 new article s oef/manufactureya `paper-rest'consistingv of anfelongatedplate, a] paper-rest, a pair of standards each cone sisting offac'bearfingfangeand a rightangular upstanding arm, a` riglitangularlng yextending below lsaid knife-bar.l

ing toward-s each other Vand 'overlying said rest at the/upper portion thereof, a gage-bar secu-red at itsflo'wer end upon said rest, means for adjustably securing the ends of said' rest upon said lugs, a knife-bar extend-A ing longitudinally upon said rest, and means forfverticallyadjusting said knife-bar upon said lugs. Y l. ;r Y

4. In a typewriting machine,the-combi-f nation of a platen-frame-'having opposing formed upon eachy of said arms'and. projectside supports, ay pair offstandards t'ixe'dly 'i securedr upon said side supports, a paper-l rest consisting of a plate having its opposite ends supported upon said vstandards,';a knifeba'r secured at a bias ywith respect to said paper-rest with its cutting edge vinv proximity lto said yrestv and rwithits blunt -edge spacedV therefrom a greater distance than *saidfcutvting edge, and means lfor vertically adjustl ing theop'positeends of said lznife=bar-v 5,. As a newarticle of manufactureytlie combination'of a pair of stand'ards,vfasten-v ing ymeans therefor," ar4 p aperfrest consisting of a plate, lugs projecting beyondthe lop-y posing ends of saidfplatfe, elongated slots v soVV being formed upon said'l lugs, lugs formed upon said standards overlying l the other' lugs, screws projecting'into rSaid slots and,y tapped" into thejstandards, lugs to adjust'- ably positionrsaid standards with respect to said other lugs, a knife-bar secured to vsaid paper-rest, and a side"rightangularlydisposed flange-'formed uponsaid rest at its end adjacent sai'd first-mentioned lugs and 6." In a typewritingmacliine,' the combi-p l nation of a platen-frame having opposing side supports, af `paper-restrconsisting of a `plate extending between vsaid side supports,

lugs extending. beyondsaifd rest, standards removablysecured upon saidsuppoits and .having lugs adjustablyv securedk upon the.'r other lugs` and means on said rest for cutH tingsheets which may engage said rest,

7. The'combination'of a paper-rest con sisting-of a2 plate vertically disposed, said platejhaving a downwardly andy angularly disposed extension, a rightangular iside" l flange Yformed upon said extensionuat one end, a knife-bar held at a 'bias to saidrest above said flange with itis cutting edge near- {est therest,l and meansforfastening said 'rest upon Aa typewrit'ing machine;V

,8;Y As anew` article Vof?l manufacture, a paperrest consisting ofa plate having a c nu guideflangeformed* at one end'thereof, and

'a knife-bar ,extending longitudinally of said plate above' said`y flange andr supported at av bias" thereto with its 'cutting edge .nearest to said restfand' -permitt-ingthefinsertion of a" sheet-between said cuttingY edgef and said rest. -4 e t I l y9.*Ats a newa-rticle ofmanufacture, a papeiierest havinga side '.'ange for squaring ends to provide shoulders engaging the al sheet overlying said rest, an upwardlyextending gage-bar secured tosaid rest, a slidable gage upon said bar engaged by the leading edge ot said sheet, and aknit'e-bar extending longitudinally of said rest and adjustably supported at a bias thereto so that its blunt edge provides a mouth for the entrance .of said she-et to said cutting edge and so that said cutting e'dge'may fricktionally engage said sheet for a severing ac- *tiony thereagainst.

"10. As anew article of manufacture, a

'plate forming al paper-rest, oppositely-arranged supports for said plate, a knife-bar extendingk longitudinally of said plate and having its ends offset so that said offs-et portions overlie said supports and dispose said knife-bar at a bias to said Aplate with its cuttingedge nearest to `said plate, said offset 'portions `being formed with vertical slots, and vset-screws tapped into said supports and projecting into said slots for adjustably positioning the ends of said oiisetportions of said knife-bar- ,Y 11. rlhe combination of a plate, standards supportingthe opposing ends of said plate, rightangular lugs formedfupon said stand.- ards, said lugs overlying said plate, a longitudinal bar consisting of terminals overlying said lugs, and an intermedia-te knifebar integrally turned at a bias with respect vto said terminals so as to incline downwardly `with respect to saidplate with' its thereof, 'integralterminal ears formed upon v said knife-bar twisted diagonally of the axis ot said knife-bar and overlying said lugs, said knife-bar being cut away at'opposite outer edges ol said ylugs in order to position the cutting edges ot said knife-bar nearerA to said plate a distance less than the thickness of either oi said lugs, and means torremovably securing said ears upon said lugs. j l Y 13. In. a vtront-strike typewriting-` machine, thek combination with a platen and meansi'or guiding a work-weh to the platen, of a web line-feeding, jumping,locating, severing and truning device for forms of diiierent lengths, including a table erected at the deliverysidel of the platen, said table forming part of a web-race along which the v web may be whiskedvmanua'lly alternately n with fits line-feeding operations, rel-easable means to hold the web tov the platen for line-feeding, permitting .the web at will to be whisked throughsaid race to, make the jumps, and means at the top of said table for locating accurately and nally andsevering the webrat the point at `which thetyping of the nextiorm begins, including aknife adjustable towards/and from the printing line and also lincluding an independently adjustable leadingfedge gage for the web, said webrace in the form o't,.a web-truing chute including oppositeside guides .mounted upon said table and also oppositeside guides mounted at the introductory sideV otV theplaten rand registering with said tableguides, all of vsaid guides co-operative with one another for truing theweb-on transverse lines thereof relatively to boththe severing I means and the printing line on the platen, each of the` opposite side guides on said table extending from thevknite to the platen, and of suitici-ent length toy prevent skewing of thel kadvancedvieb.from `its true z-pathV atY ble erected at the deliveryV side of the platen,

said table `forming part of a web-race'. along which the web maybe whisked manually sie alternately with its line-feeding operations,

releasable means to hold the web kto the ,platen` for,line-feeding,permitting the web .at will to be whiskedvthrough said raceto j .make the jumps, a severing device tor, the

web, means at the top ot. said table a forms n .c

length in advance of kthe severing device, for locating accurately andflinally, the web for severing and `for typing the first linek of the nextform, said web-race in the form of a web-truingchute including. opposite side, guides mounted upon" saidftable and also opposite side guides mounted at the introductory side of the platen and registering with Vsaid table-guides, allot said guides cooperative with oneanotherv -for truing the web on transverse lines thereof lrelative.-

ly to hoththe severing means and the printing line on thegplaten," and a` letter-feeding carriage for said platen, each of the opposite side guides on ysaid ytable kextending 15;'In Vfront-strike typewriting machine,` the combinationV with a platen and -means for guidingf a work-web to the platen, of ai web lineeed1ng,v jumping, locating,

severing and truingr device, including a table verected, at the deliveryfside of the/platen, Y

said table 4foriningpart"of a web-race along which vthe web may be whisked manually alternately with its line-feeding operations,

releasable means to hold thevweb-v to the platen for line-feeding, permitting the-web at will to be whisked through said race to' make the jumps, a. severing device for theV web, means at the top 'ofsaid table a' forms length in advanoe ofthe severing device, for locating accurately and iinally the Web for severing and for typing the irst line ofy troductory side ofl the platen and register- Y. ing with said table-guides, all of said guides co-operative kwith one another for ,truing the web on Atransverse lines thereof relativea ly to both the severing means and the printing line on the platen,` each of. the opposite side guides on said table extending from the knife to the platen, and of sufficient length to preventv skewing vor the advancedgweb from its true path at right: angles to the platen, anda letter-feeding carriage for l said platen, means being providedV at said said table forming part yof ay web-race along severing device for frictionally detaining the leading vportionv of vthe' severed web, to prevent it from falling away from the severingdevice. v v 16. In a front-strike typewriting' chine, the combination with a platen, of a web' line-feeding,l jumping, locating, severing and truin'gpdevice, including a table erected lat the delivery side of the platen,

which theweb -Irray be whisked vmanually alternately with its'line-ieedingk operations,v

`releasable means to hold the web to the platen .for line-feeding, permittingthe web 'I atWi-llto be whisked through said race to d make the ju1nps,'a severing vdevice vfor the 'vweb, means at the top of'said table afform ys Y length in advance `of the severing device,

for locatingV accurately and finally the web for severing and for typing the first .line of the next form, said web -raoe in the form of opposite side guides mounted at the introductory side of theplaten and registering with said table-guides, all of said guides lco-operativev withV one. 'another for trung the web on transverse lines thereof relatively to both'the severing'means and the print-i ing line on the platen, and a letter-feeding carriage yfor said platen-means beingk provided at said vsevering device for 'fr1ctio`nally detaining` the leading portion of the sev` ered' web,`toV prevent .it from falling away A from the severing device, said Ldetainingl Vmeans including a plate at an obtuse .angle tosaid table, and said `severing .device press ingv the web into the angle and therebyvfrictionallyfholding vthev web yagainst Yfalling While .permitting it to advance at the lnefeeding operation-- a Jassen. Bf SMITH. i

av web-truing chute including opposite sideV lguides mounted upon saidl table and also 

